Air-valve.



PATENTED FEB. 27, 1906. T WHEETLEY. AIR VALVE. APPLIUATION FILED AUG. 13, 1904.

2 SHEETSSHEET 1.

I MTTORIVW PATENTED FEB. 27; 1906 T. WHEATLEY.

AIR VALVE. I APPLICATION FILED AUG. 13, 1904.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

WITNESSE Mimi/W firnoiies orrrcn.

AlR=VALVE Specification of Letters Patent.

Eatented Feb. 2'7, 1906.

Application filed August 13,1904. Serial No. 220,689.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, THOMAS WnEA'rLnY, of

I Syracuse, in the county of Onondaga, in the State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Air-Valves, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to improvements in air-valves for steain-iadiators from which it is desired to permit the tree expulsion of air by the infiowing heating agent and at the same time to prevent the of steam or the recntrance of air by the partial vacuum which is created, due to the condensation of steam in the radiator. in this of devices the primary object sought is to maintain a free exit for the. cold air to atmosphere during the iniiow of the steam into the radiator and to close the air-passage as quickly as possible after the air has been expelled, so as to prevent the escape of steam through the air-passage and to subsequently close the airpassage against the reentrance of air when the steam-pressure ceases. 1 am aware that certain patents have issued showing diil'erent means for carrying out these objects either individually or jointly; but I am not aware that these several objec s have been heretofore carried out in simple, compact, and

practical device in which the elements are inclosed in a shell and protected against malicious tampering or interference.

in my present device 1 not only contem plate carrying out the broad objects above stated, but 1 have also sought to produce a simple. compact, and S8li0()11titi116(l device which may be readily attached to the radiator and in which the communication of the radiator with the atmosphere is controlled by a valved passage in flexible dia ihragm above the inlet to the shell, while the exit of steam is cut oil' by means of a float containing a well for receiving the water of condensation by which air is trapped in the float, so that when heated the expansive force of the heated air reduces the volume of liquid in the well of the float and causes said float to rise and to operate a suitable valve to cut oil communication bctween the radiator and atmosphere,

Another object is to provide a well in the base of the shell to receive the water oi con densation and to also provide said shell with an air-chamber communicating with its well, whereby the water of condensation accumulating in the well in the shell operates to trap the air in said air-chamber, whereby the eX pansive force of the heated air in. the shell causes the liquid in the well of the shell to rise around the float, and thereby elevate the same for the purpose above described, thus bringing into action two separate forces to operate the float to close communication between the radiator and atmosphere as soon as the steam enters the shell. 7

Other objects and uses will appear in the followingdescription.

in the drawings, Figure 1 is a transverse vertical sectional view of a radiator air-valve embodying the various features of my invention. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 2 2, Fig. 1. Figs. 3, 4, and 5 are perspective views showing, respectively, the upper and lower sections of the main body of the shell and the cap upon which the diaphragm is mounted. Fig. 6 is a perspective view oi the float, a portion thereof being broken away to show the inner tube. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a load gasket forming a guide for the lower end of the float. Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the cap forming the bottom of the shcll. Figs. 9, 10, and 11 are vertical sectional views similar to Fig. 1, showing further modifications of my invention. Figs. 12 and 13 are sectional views taken, respectively, on line 12 1?, Fig. 10, and 13 13, Fig. 11. Fig. 1.4 is a perspective View of the detached float seen in Fig. 10. Figs. 3 to 8 and Fig. 14 are on a reduced scale. i I

Referring now to the construction seen in Figs. .1 to 8, inclusive, and particularly in Fig. 1, .1 have shown an oulcr shell consisting of a lower or base section 1, an upper section 2, a removable top section3, and a removabl?v capsection storming the bottom of the base-soction 1. The sections 1 and 2 are tubular in form, the upper portion being fitted in and secured to the upporend of the lower section by brazing, soldering, or otherwise, to form a substantially continuous shell, having an inletopening 5inone side substantially midway between the bottom cap 4- and upper section 3, whereby a well 6 formed in the base of the lower section 1 The lower end of this section 1 is preferably reduced in diameter and is threaded to receive the threaded cap 4,. which forms the bottom o1 the well. A suitable washer or packing 7, of lead or equivalent material, is impinged between the cap 4 and adjacent land of the lower shell-section 1 n siesta to form a watertightjoint, and its central portion is arched upwardly and provided with a central aperture in which the lower end of the float, presently described, is guided, said packing being provided with openings 8 to ermit the water of condensation to pass ireely through the washer and upon the bottom 4. The lower end of the upper section 2 is reduced in diameter and extends downwardly a considerable distance beneath the upper end of the section 1 to a oint in prox imity to the bottom 4, so that it is of less diameter than. the inner diameter of the shellsection 1, and its lower end is open and dips into the water (if-condensation in the well 6, thus forming an uir-chember 9 between the s loll-section 1 and lower end of the shell- 2 3 which air-chamber the air is r oil condensation in the that the up )er end of is closed by a wall 11, while i w with the interior of the ensi on 10, so that the water accuni v 7 well 6 is free to pass up wardly int-z the interior the said extension 10, which coinnninicates with the inlet-opening 5. The cap 3 inthis instance comprises a lhwcr sr n 12 and an upper section 13, the lower 'on being threaded and screwed into the u pper en 1 of the shell-section 2, while its uppe end liar-3s outwardly and receives the bellced upper section 13, having its marginal e( e clamped over and upon the marginal oi the section 12, whereby the two sections 12 nod 13 are permanently secured together. The inner or lower end of the top section 3 is reduced in diameter, so that it is considerably smaller than the surrounding shell-section 2, and secured to this reduced portion of the top section is a tubular extension 15, which projects downwardly some distance below the lower end of the section 12 to a plane in substantial alinement with the lower edge of the inlet-opening 5,

but still a slight distance above the upper wall 11 of the air-chamber 9, so as to leave a clear passage between the lower end of the tube 15 and wall 11. The inlet 5 is provided with a suitable nipple 16, which is adapted to be secured to a radiator, as 17, and it now appears that the lower end of the tube 15 extends across the inner end of the inlet-opening 5, so that the inflowing steam impinges against said tube and the water of condensation which may accumulate above the inlet is de fiected inwardly into the tubular extension 10 by the inclined wall 11, so that all of the water of condensation is precipitated immediatelyinto the bottom of the section 1,where it traps the air in the chamber 9 and serves as a means for operating the lloat in the manner hereinafter described The reduced lower end or bottom of the upper section 3 is provided with a nipple having vertical lateral passages 18 and 19, said nipple having in its lower end a valve-seat 20, forming the lower end of the passage 18, while the upper end of said nipple is provided with a valve 21, and therefore this valve 21 and seat are fixed from movement. A flexible diaphragm 22 is suspended at its marginal edges between the upper and lower top sections 12 and 13, so that its central portion is free to vibrate vertically by the differences in pressure above and beneath the same, said central portion. being provided with nipple 23, having aver tical passage 24 and a valve-seat 25 at the lower end of and. communicating with passage This diaphragm divides the erioroi the top s.ell-section 3 into lower and up per chan'ibers and 27, the lower she 21") communicat n w: tine/interior? 15 through 1S and V connnuru upper ch throu h t e p This diaphragm is e at lni wr '1 0110b (Zn-r1111! Ht pressure is so that the :1 t 25 normally 1' valve 21, and communicatirm between the ch: and 27' is normall cut oil, when trio pi above the di i equal to or A than the pr w the diap i upper shell-seri i '1 provided orznore openings 28, which connect the cl ,ber 27 with the atmosphere. in Oi'flltl to prevent undue upwind movement of the diaphragm 22 when the pressure below the d phragm is greater than atmospheric pressure in the chamber 27, I rovide the upper tion 13 with a centra depending nipple 29, the lower end of which terminates a slight distance above the upper end of the nipple 23 and is perforatcd at 30, so that when the diaphragm is elevated by the excessive pressure of air in the chamber 26 it will be limited in its upward movement and still the air will be free to pass from the inlet 5 downwardlv through the lower end of the tube 15 and then upwardly through the passages 18 and 19, thence into the chamber 26 and outwa'rdly through the passages 24 and apertures 30 and through the apertures 28 to atmosphere. On the other hand, when the steam is shut off from the radiator and condensation takes place therein a partial vacuum is formed in the radiator, as well as in the shell 2, which reduces the pressure at the under side of the dia hragm 22, so that it is forced downwardly )y the atmospheric pressure in the chamber 27, thereby causing the seat 25 to engage the upper end of the valve 21, thus closing communication between the radiator and atmosphere and preventing the reentrance of air to the shell and to said radiator.

I have thus far described the means for permitting the free exit of air from the radiator and i or preventing the reentrance of an",

the radiator the air edge of theinlot opening and communicate with said inlet-opening, thus forming" Well 37 in the base of the float the height r winch is determined by the openings This lloet preferably consists ol an or. tube and an inner tube 36, whi letter iS of smaller diameter than the interior diameter of the outertube 35 and has its upper end se ured to the outer tube above the openings seen in Fig. 1, While the lower nd l inner tube open end conmnuucetes i the base of the well, as 37 in the base of tl By this constructio on inner eirour end of the ch comm uni-- ouch {LS the 4 m the flout extemlsliglitly below ie low V edge of the inlet 1 L8 wit sz'iidinlel 't is evident the wetter cor nsiition rising within the tubular extension 10 the shell overllows through said openings 34 and passes down into the bottom of the Well 37 in the flout. thereby trapping the'air in the chamber 38. The bottom of the float is closed and is provided with depending stem 39, which is guided in the central opening in the washer 7, while the upper end of the float is also closed and is proyidedwithu valve ll), which is adapted to seat itself in the seat when the Host is elevated.

In the operation of the device seen in Fig. Lussuniingthai the wells in the shell and l'lbet are empty and that the riiuilietor is cold, in

40 is unsealed from t'l'le seat 20 and the dis hrogm valve-seat is seated upon the \11. e 21, so that communication between the radiator and atmosphere is closed, now upon the inlet cl. stemu into which case the Volvo into the tube through the passages 13 and 19 into the in et beneath bottom and I chiunberifo. the pres ure ol" such uiroperutino;

free to escape throrurli the passages 24- nnd 3t) and 28 to utmosp the air continues until the st inlet which steam first en 4 2, which Lin P111213 s cold. and

lmet

K i shell-section 1, thereby sen Hi the borer end of tire section 10 end tw nning the and (one expelled through the re. This expulsion ol 1 the s the 111l(l"l( l I from \illlt'll it is 1 "liobotiuniolllie l cur-elm ehmnber 9. the Water of condensation continues to accumulate it rises in the extension 10 and overflows through the opening into the Well 3 7 into the bottom of the Host .3] thereby sealing the lower end ofthe tubuler section 36 and trapping the air in the upper end of the flout. By this time the trapped air in the chambers 38 and 9, heated by the contents of the shell, begins to expand and to therefore expel a portion of the water 'n the Well 37, While at the same time the writer in the well 6 is also partially tied from the chamber 9 and exerts a -:-;pn sion ol the liquid from the owe-r end of the chamber 38 and the'upwa d nsive force of the air in said chamber 38, mt additionally elevated by the influx of the water in the extension 10 around the lost, due to the partial expulsion of the weer' l'i no the chamber 9 by the expansion of i r in. This action of the float is tlnrelore mode more positive and more instantaneous than would be possible with a limit open at its lower end and dipping into at Well, and therefore the valve 40 is quiekly embed in the pussuge 18 to close communionbet i the radiator and atmosphere entrance of steam into the shell. the pressure beneath the diaeduced by the partial vacuum created in the radiator and shell, due to tho comilcnsutiou of the steam in the radiator, said diaphragm is forced downwardly by the atmospheric pressure until the seat 25 en gages the upper end oi the valve 21, thus closing QOIDUHUIlCZttlO]l between the radiator and atmosphere and preventing rebutrunce of air to the udiutor, the partial vacuum serving to facilitate the rellow ol steam when the stmniwulve is again opened.

in l ig. U l. lune shown a rudiutor-vulve con. toting of u shell (1, having a reduced lower end I: and u removable upper section 0, the reduced lower end 1) having a removable cup or bottbm (l while the upper section is provided with u diaphragm c, similar to the dizzphmgm 22. This diaphragm also has it ("ontrul nipplef with u passage g llWlCllU'OUfill and u \'z'1l\'(-5(lll r'z all its lower end. The shell (1 is provided with an inlet '1 some distuocc above its bottom I) tor. l'orming' u well I in the bottom 01' the shell and is also l'ormed l *1 unuulurseut .1' just below the inlet i. m is centrally arranged within the .md has lslowcr curl open and dipping in weir-r ol' coiuleusulion in the well /i'; do the upper end is closed for l'orminu nu the; o, in which the uii' is trapped by 'ol (Ullfllllszllnll in the well A relive 1; is mounted upon the upper end ol the llout. but is sl own us unsealed from the soul to burr-ii the on to puss l'l'om the inlet I up i l ml in the I wurdly through llu pussugc r uud outwardl 13o through apertures a in the top section above the diaphragm e. A tubular ca w has its upper end secured to the nippl f, while its lower end encircles the upper end of the float and extends downwardly in proximity to the seat It at the lower edge of the inlet i. This tubular cap w is open at the bottom and is somewhat larger than the inclosed portion of the float, so that the air is free to pass from the inlet beneath the bottom oi the cap and upwardly through the same through the ssage g and outwardly through the openings it. It is ap )arent [ruin the foregoing description that t e cap a is carried by the diaphragm c, and when a pe iai vacuun'i is created in the radiator by condensation of steam therein this hragn'i is Forced downwardly by atmose'c pressure until the seat It is engaged the upper end of the valve 8, and at the same time the lower edge ol the cap to is seated against the seat at at the upper end of the tubular extension Z) of the shell (1.. In device the float is actuated bythe cxpension of heated air in the chamber 0 in said i'loat to close the valve .9 against the seat 7i when the steam enters the shell (1, and inasmuch as the partial vacuum begins in the radiator and shell while this valve is thus ited it is evident that the excessive atmospheric pressure above the diaphragm will hold the seat against the valve, and thereby trace the diaphragm and cap 11 and also the lloat m downwardly.

in Fig. I0 I have shown a modified construction of air-valve having a well 6 and-a chamber 9, similar to the well 6 and airchamber 9 seen in Fig. 1; but instead of ad mitting the steam through the side of the outer shell above the air-chamber 1 insert a stean1-inlet tube through the bottom of the well 6 and upwardly through the upper "wall 11 of the air-chamber 9, so as to discharge into the upper end of the shell above the wall 11. In this construction the lower portion of the shell forming the Well 6 and air-chamber 0 is composed of inner and outer sections 4] and 42, which are united at the top by the wall 11, and the inner section 41 extends downwardly through the lower end of the section 42 and is provided with a closure or cap 43, which forms the bottom of the well, said inner section 4 having connnunication with the air-chamber 9 through suitable passages 43. The upper portion 44 of the outer shell is screwed to the upper end of the section 41 and carries a diaphragm 22, having a central air-vent 24-. The float 45 is movable within the tubular section 41 and consists of inner and outer sections 46 and 47, which have their lower ends secured together and closed by the cap 48. The outer section 47 is open at the top to form a well in. the bottom of the float, which communicates with the interior of the section 46 through aperto a point l siaeoe one side for forming a vertical steam and air.

passage 53, the lower end of which terminates in a nipple 54, which is adapted to be secured to a radiator. The bottom of this shell is closed by a cap 55 and the top is closed by another cap 56, carrying a diaphragm 57, having a central air-vent 58. The inner shell 59 is fitted within the shell 5.1 and is provided with an inward depression in one side for forming a vertical steam and air channel 60. This shell 59 is rotatable in the shell 51, so as to vary the cross-sectional area of the steam and air inlet passages formed by the channels 53 and 60, and in order to permit this by hand when desired the lower end of the shell 59 extends downwardly through the bottom of the shell 51 and the cap 55 is screwed upon the lower end of this extension, but is made so as to abut against the lower end ofthe section 51, so that by loosening the cap slightly the inner shell may be rotated for the purpose above mentioned, after .vhich the cap is retightened to hold the shell 5'9 in place. in this construction lhave shown an ordinary float 62, which is open at the bottom and communicates with the well in the base of the shell, so that the water of condensation accumulating in the well serves to trap the air in the upper end of the float, which is closed. The operation of this device is also very similar to that shown and described in Fig. 1.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. An air-valve for radiators comprising a shell having an inlet above the bottom forming a well, and an air-vent above the inlet, said well being divided into two chambers communicatin with each other near the bottom of the we l. one-of the chambers being open at the top forming a float-chamber, and the other closed at the top forming an airchamber, a float situated in the float-charm her, said float comprising a well open near its top, and an air-chamber closed at its top and communicatii'ig with the floatswell near the bottom thereof, the inlet and air-vent being in free communication with the float-chamber.

2. In an air-valve for radiators, a shell comprising a well-and an air-cl'iamber oon1- nninicatin with each other near the bottom of the we] the air-chaniber being closed at the top, said shell having an inlet and an airvent, both in free communication with too upper end of the well above the closed top of the air-chamber, a float in the well, and a valve actuated by the float to close the airvent.

3. In an air-valvefor radiators, shell having an inlet above its bottom communicating with the atmosphere, a float comprising a well closed at the bottom and opening near its top and an air-chamber closed at the top and communicatin at its bottom with the float-well, and a va ve actuated by the float to cut ofl communication between the inlet and atmosphere, said float-well having free communication with the inlet and with the atmosphere.

4. An air-valve for radiators comprising a shell having an inlet and an air-vent, a float in the shell having a closed bottom and an opening above the bottom whereby a well is I formed to receive water of condensation, said nation, a shell having an. inlet and an float also having an air-chamber closed at the top and opening near its bottom into said well whereby air is trapped. in said chamber by the accumulation of water in the floatwell, and a valve for the air-vent actuated by the float.

5. In an air-valve for radiators, in combiairvent, a float comprising outer and'inner hollow parts, one part being closed at the bot tom' and having an opening above the bottom whereby a well is formed, and the other part having its lower end open and dipping in the well and its upper end closed forming an air-chamber in which the air is trapped by the water in the float-well, and a valve actuated by the float to close the air-vent.

6. In an air-valve for radiators, a float comprising a wellclosed at its lower end and an air-chamber openin at or near its lower end into the well and c osed at the top, said float havin an opening in one side above the bottom to etermine the depth of the well.

7. In an air-valve for radiators, a shell having an inlet above its bottom communicating with atmosphere, and forming a well, in combination with a float closed at the bottom and having an inlet above the bottom forming a well below the inlet, said float having an air-chamber opening at the bottom into the well and closed at the top, and a valve actuated by the rise of" the float to cutoff communication between the inlet and atmosphere.

8. In an air-valve for radiators, a shell having an inlet and a vent above the inlet, in combination with a baffle-tube surrounding the vent and extending partially across the inlet and having its lower end open to receive the escaping air, a valve for the air-vent, and a float in the open end of the baffle-tube and operable by varying tem eratures and ad apted to open and close sair valve.

9. In an air-valve for radiators, a shell having an inlet above its bottom forming a well,

and an air-vent above the inlet, said well communicating with the inlet, a baflle-tube surrounding the vent and extending partially across the inlet but having its lower end com-- municatingwith saidinlet. a float in the well and balfle-tube, and. a valve actuated by the float to close the vent.

10. In an air-valve for radiators, a shell having an inlet above its bottom forming a well and an air-vent above the inlet,'a tied valve between the inlet and vent, a flexible diaphragm between the fixed valve and atmosphere and provided with an air-passage ha ing its lower end seated on the valve, said diaphragm being operable by varying pressures to seat the passage upon and to unseat it from the valve.

11. In an air-valve for radiators, a shell having anv inlet above its bottom forming a well and a diaphragm above the inlet, said diaphragm having an air-passage communicating with the inlet and with the atmosphere, the interior of the shell being divided into two chambers comiminicatingwith each other near the bottom of the well, one of said chambers being open at the top forming a float-chamber and the other closed at the top forming an. air-chamber, a float situated. in the float-chamber and a Ive actuated by the float for controlling communication be tween the inlet and atmosphere through the passage in the diaphragm.

12. In an air-valve for comprising a well and an air-cliramber, the well being open at the top and the air-chamher closed at the top and communicating near its bottom with the well, said shell hav ing an inlet above the well and an air-vent above the inlet, a diaphragm between the inlet and atmosphere and provided with an air-passage, a lined va ve between the inlet and diaphragm and coacting with said pas sage to close communication between the inlet and atmosphere, a float in the well, and a valve actuated by the float to control communication between the inlet and passage in the diaphragm.

13. An air-valve for radiators comprising a shell having; an inlet in one side, forming a well below and communicating with the inlet, said shell havingan air-chamber closed at the top and its lower end opening into the well, a flexible diaphragm in the top of the shell having a passage therethrough communicating with the inlet and atmosphere, a valve for said passage, float in the well, and itself having a well in its base communicating with the first-named well and with the inlet, said float having an air-chamber closed at its top and its lower end opening into the well in the float, and means rought into operation by the float to close communication between the inlet and passage in the diaphragm.

14:. In combination with a radiator, a shell having an inlet therein, of a cap for the shell having an ainpassage in its bottom, a diaradiators, a shell phragm Within the cap and also having an air-passage therethrough, a heat-actuated valve for the passage in the bottom of the cap, and a fixed valve for the passage in the diaphragm, said diaphragm being actuated by varying pressures to seat and unseat the fixed valve, and a float in the shell for operating the first-named valve.

15 In an air-valve for radiators, a shell having an inlet, a cap removably secured to' the shell and provided with a valved passage, and a diaphragm in the cap having a valved passage the valve of the latter passage being fixed in the cap.

16. In an air-valve for radiato s, a float having an inlet above its bottom lorlning a well in the base of the float in combination with an inclosing shell having an inlet above the float-inlet.

" A i'loa e its bot- I L'; I]

we neat, oiosed at the Well,

nil

not above e inner tube the inlet l and having its lower end di the chamber above thewel the to 19. having a removable bottom an inlet above the bottom, a 'packingbetween the bottom and adjacent end of the shell and having a raised center, and a float in the shell guided on said center of the packin 20. In an air-valve for radi ,rs, a cat comprising a Well and an air-chamber communicating with each other nea" the bottom of' the Well, the air-chamber being closed at the top and the Well having an inlet above its bottom.

21. In an air-valve for radiators, a shell having a removable cap, said cap having an air-passage through its bottom and a diaphragm above the bottom forming aeham-- ber between said diaphragm and the bottom of the cap, said diaphragm having an airpassage therethrough, and a valve for the passage of the diaphragm.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 28th day of July, woe.

THOMAS WillE/YHJEY,

Witnesses H. E. CHASE, Minimal) M. Nora:

pin in the well bei ng closed at 11 an air-valve for radiators, a shell 

